This anthology, which includes both short stories and excerpts from larger works, celebrates the diversity of Asian American literature, from the many literary styles to the various ethnic backgrounds, ages and beliefs of the 48 writers included in this collection.

Created by a white man named Earl Derr Biggers in 1925, Charlie Chan was one of the ultimate Asian stereotypes, known for his obsequious manner and broken English versions of fortune-cookie pop psychology. The diverse, individual, invincible Asian American voices in this collection prove that such cartoonish Asian Americans never existed in reality.